Making Your Own Cleaning Products and What Do You Need?

It's true, you can go to the store and buy products off the shelf for any cleaning need you might have. But you can also make similar products, ones that you know the ingredients of, for very little money and just a little bit of effort.

When making homemade cleaning products you really only need a few ingredients. Those ingredients include vinegar, baking soda, borax, and hydrogen peroxide. In fact, you can make a variety of cleaners all from one bottle of vinegar and one or two of the above ingredients.

Do you need a multi-purpose cleaner? Instead of buying 409Æ, why not mix up a bottle of homemade multi-purpose cleaner? In a spray bottle clearly marked, mix together equal parts water and white vinegar. This spray is effective, and costs much less than 409Æ.

Vinegar is known to cut grease and dirt, and is good as a disinfectant. You can use this mixture to clean windows, soap scum, mildew, tubs, and ceramic tiles. Add a drop or two of any essential oil of your choice to aid in the effectiveness of the cleaner. Do not, however, use vinegar on natural marble floors or counters.

You can also make an air freshener that will actually absorb odors rather than covering them up. In a bottle that will create a fine mist, combine two cups of hot water, one teaspoon of baking soda, and one teaspoon of vinegar. Shake the bottle to help the baking soda dissolve. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, add a drop or two of any citrus essential oil. (Be sure to clearly mark your bottle.)

For an effective disinfectant, mix together two teaspoons of borax, four tablespoons of vinegar, and three cups of hot water. While borax is NOT non-toxic, it is environmentally safe. Please be careful to label anything containing borax, and be careful how you store it.

Everyone knows that hydrogen peroxide will clean out a wound, and that's probably the only way most people will use it. Did you know, however, that it's great for removing fresh blood on clothing? The same foaming action that draws the dirt out of a scrape will remove blood from a shirt or slacks.

You can also add hydrogen peroxide right into your washing machine when washing a load of whites. Pour a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the washing machine as it fills with water. Just make sure you don't pour it directly onto your clothing because peroxide will act the same way as bleach.

Kitchen counters and wooden cutting boards, if not cleaned properly, could be a breeding ground of salmonella or other bacteria. Rinse your counter or cutting board down with hydrogen peroxide after they are washed to kill all traces of the bacteria. Rubbing a little lemon juice on it can help too.

You don't have to spend a fortune, or fill your home with harmful chemicals, to get your home clean. Well-known items, usually found in the home anyhow, are all you need. By combining a few simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, borax, or hydrogen peroxide, you can keep your home clean and healthy.